MovieChat Forums > The Dinner (2017) Discussion > Very good reviews; great book

Very good reviews; great book

posted 7 years ago by Isisnin (4)
9 replies | jump to latest

I haven't seen the movie but did watch Richard Gere give an interview. Looked up the reviews to find them very good. So I found the book on line (archive.org) and read it today. Excellent!

You should probably see the movie first as books usually have more details that flesh out the characters better. So when you see the movie second, you find it not as satisfying. But the reviews say the acting is excellent and that's always worthwhile. So I'm looking forward to the movie.

The disclosures that come in the flashbacks towards the end, I did not see coming. and the ending had a real twist.

Highly recommend.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

I have no clue as to the book. I do recall that the writer boycotted the film premiere because he was disgusted with the changes the director made to the story. That said I did see the movie, and honestly it was mediocre at best but the ending was absolute rubbish. SPOILER....

A movie needs to have an ending, nothing worse and more annoying than a movie that fails to deliver an outcome good or bad... Instead you end up with a complete let down because the movie basically ends with a huge open ended question as to whether one of the parents has killed the child of the other parents. If I wanted to draw my own conclusions I would have written the damn book not wasted 2 hours of my time waiting for a story to begin and end and then only have the beginning with no ending. Total bullshit.

[–] alymac (5) 7 years ago

I agree completely! I've been scouring the internet for a discussion forum on this film and finally found this one. Although it doesn't have much activity, I'm glad to see that others were as frustrated by this crappy ending as I was. I replayed the endind twice and you can sort of make out Beau's step mom, Kate, (Gere's wife) say into the phone, "Oh, you're alright, thank God." But I could be wrong. Did you catch that? Either way, what an abrupt and shit ending!

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Didn't catch it... and honestly the movie wasn't what I would think of as good enough for me to rewatch the last minutes again... I'm just going to assume he didn't bash the kids head in but the kid then told his dad he was going to at which point Gere shoots the would be head basher before being arrested for murder such that because of their stupidity every life was ruined.

[–] brux (14666) 6 years ago

[–] Skater61 (36) 5 years ago

Couldn’t even hear that line without rerunning it twice. I agree, a travesty on the part of the filmmaker.

What was Stan doing in that scene, on the phone I mean? Calling in his press conference or getting some update on his campaign?

[–] brux (14666) 6 years ago

Yeah, with all the noise and disconnectedness of this movie, the ending was confusing. Very unnerving

[–] brux (14666) 6 years ago

It is on NetFlix right now which is where I just saw it.
It is not exactly a good movie, it is more fascinating but hard to watch.
The kid is nuts, and his father ( Coogan ).
Did you see it and if so what did you think?

[–] Skater61 (36) 5 years ago

However “nutty” Paul is, the real psychopaths are Claire and Michael. Paul might have been better living with normal people.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5958) 4 years ago

Yes, surprised to see the IMDB ratings in the 4 range.

It's very good on the way people all compromise doing the right thing when their personal needs get involved.